Box and match package

ABSTRACT

A box and match package wherein a container having front, back, end and side walls is provided with a plurality of match is integral and co-planar with the container. In one form, perforations are provided between the matches and the back wall so that the matches can be individually torn from the back wall. A match striking surface is provided on an end wall. The front wall may include a window portion, and the back wall may include a foldable panel for covering the matches.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of a prior application Ser. No.10/940,381, filed Sep. 14, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a box and match package wherein acontainer having a front, back, end and side walls is provided with aplurality of matches integral with the container.

2. Description of the Related Art

The continuing decrease of people smoking today at home and away resultsin fewer people caring matches or a lighter or even having them in thehome. Thus, for example, it can be disconcerting at a child's birthdayparty when it is time to light the birthday candles but no one has alight to ignite the candles.

While it is known to provide a box of items to be lit with matches, ithas been found that these boxes are complicated in construction and aredesigned specifically for containing candles or matches in separatecompartments within the boxes.

After considerable research and experimentation, the box and matchpackage of the present invention has been devised which is constructedand arranged to provide a container wherein a plurality of matches areintegral with the container and are detachably connected therefrom.

Thus, a box and match package solving the aforementioned problems isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The box and match package of the present invention comprises,essentially, a blank made of cardboard, or other suitable material,which, when cut and scored, is folded and adhesively secured to form abox having front and back walls, end and side walls. The portion of theblank providing the back wall of the container is formed by a pluralityof planar matches detachably connected from each other and the remainderof the blank providing the back wall of the container. The end wall ofthe container is provided with a striking surface for the matches. Theback wall of the container is also provided with an aperture tab so thatthe package can be hung from a display rack.

In one embodiment, the front wall of the container is provided with awindow for displaying the contents of the package.

In another embodiment, the portion of the blank forming the back wall ofthe container is provided with an external flap or panel which isadapted to be folded over the matches when the container is constructedto thereby provide a cover for the matches.

In yet another embodiment, the front wall of the package has no window.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the portion of the blankforming the back wall of the container is provided with an extended flapor panel which houses a plurality of planar matches detachably connectedfrom each other and the remainder of the flap or panel.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before beingfolded into a container.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the inventionwherein the blank of FIG. 1 has been folded to form a package containingcandles and having a window in the front face of the package.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 2,illustrating a match being pulled from the back wall of the package anda striking surface on an end of the package.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before beingfolded into another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the package were in the blank ofFIG. 4 has been folded to form another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 5,showing a rear panel pivoted to the open position to expose the matches,and illustrating a match being pulled from a group of matches.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the blank, cut and scored before beingfolded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view where and the blank of FIG. 7 hasbeen folded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 8,showing a match being pulled from the back wall of the package.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a blank, cut and scored before beingfolded to form yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 10, andillustrating the match striking surface on the panel.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the combinedbox and match package of the present invention comprises a blank 1 ofcardboard, plastic or other suitable material which is cut and scored toform a front panel 2 having a window portion 2 a, a back panel 3, sidepanels 4 and 5 and end panels 6 and 7. Each of the side panels 4 and 5have flap portions 4 a, 5 a and the end panels 6 and 7 have flapportions of 6 a, 7 a which, when folded inwardly and adhesively securedto each other, form the front wall 2, side walls 4 and 5, and end walls6 and 7 of the container shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The end wall 7 has astriking surface 7 b. It is a recognized that the striking surface 7 bmay be formed on any surface out of the container.

The back panel 3 includes a plurality of co-planar matches 3 adetachably connected from each other and the remainder of the panel byperforations 3 b. The back panel 3 also includes a flap portion 3 cwhich, when folded inwardly, cooperates with panel 4 to form thesidewall 4 of the container. The back panel 3 also includes tab portions3 d, having apetures 3 e to be folded upon themselves, as shown in FIGS.2 and 3, to provide a hanger for detachably suspending the containerfrom the display rod of a display rack (not shown).

As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, one example of using the container isto fill it with the birthday candles 8, and the matches 3 a may be tornaway from the back panel 3, as shown in FIG. 3, and are adapted to bestruck on the surface 7 b whereby the match 3 a is ignited.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6wherein the back panel 3 is provided with an additional panel portion 3f connected to the flap portion 3 c along a fold line 3 g. When theblank is folded to form the container, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the panelportion 3 f is folded to a position overlying the matches 3 a, tothereby provide a cover for the matches similar to a cover on a book ofmatches. The panel portion 3 f may be secured to the back panel 3 by anymechanism, for example, with at least one adhesive dot 9 as shown inFIG. 4.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the inventionwherein the front panel 2 of the blank is continuous and therefore notprovided with a window portion, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein thecontainer is formed similar to FIGS. 4-6 using similar numerals but withnoted differences. In this embodiment, the plurality of planar matches 3a′ are detachably connected to panel portion 3 f and from each other andthe remainder of the panel by perforations 3 b′. In order to provide asafe striking surface location, the striking surface 7 b′ can be locatedon any wall of the container, for example, side panel 4, rather than endpanel 7 as previously shown. The panel portion 3 f may be secured to theback panel by any mechanism, for example with at least one adhesive dot9′.

FIG. 11 illustrates the container with the striking surface 7 b″ locatedon the rear panel 3 f.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A box and a match package comprising: a container having at least front, back, side and end walls; a plurality of matches being integral with said container; means for detachably connecting each match from said container; and a match striking surface on said container.
 2. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said matches are integral with said back wall of said container.
 3. The box and match package according to claimant 2, wherein said back wall of said container and said matches are co-planar.
 4. The box and match package according to claim 2, wherein said means for detachably connecting each match from said back wall comprises perforations positioned between each match and said back wall.
 5. The box and match package according to claim 2, wherein a panel is connected to said container back wall along a fold line, to thereby provide a cover for said plurality of matches.
 6. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said end wall of said container.
 7. The box and match package of according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said side wall of said container.
 8. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said panel of said container.
 9. The box and match package according to claim 5, wherein said panel is secured to said container by at least one adhesive dot when in a position covering said plurality of matches.
 10. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of candles are contained in said container.
 11. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said end wall of said container.
 12. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said match striking surface is provided on said sidewall of said container.
 13. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein said front wall of said container is provided with a window portion.
 14. The box and match package according to claim 1, wherein a panel is connected to said container.
 15. The box and match package according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of matches are integral with said panel.
 16. The box and match package according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of matches and said panel co-planar.
 17. The box and match package according to claim 15, wherein said means for detachably connecting each match of said plurality of matches from said panel comprises perforations positioned between each match and said panel.
 18. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is said end wall.
 19. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is said side wall of the container.
 20. The box and match package of claim 15, wherein said match striking surface is on an opposite side of said panel from said plurality of matches. 